USAID booted out of Russia

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) says it is withdrawing from Russia after Moscow decided to call a halt to the agencys work in the country. The United States recently received the Russian governments decision to end USAID activities in the Russian Federation, US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland was quoted as saying on Tuesday. Russia told the United States last week that USAID should end its activities in the country. While Nuland would not be drawn on the reasons given for Moscow's decision, she said it was more "their sense that they don't need this anymore." Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the United States of fomenting unrest through its support for NGOs in Russia. Following the announcement, the Russian government on Wednesday said the United States had been using its aid mission in Moscow to influence Russian politics and presidential elections. It's about attempts to influence political processes, including elections of various types, and institutions of civil society through the distribution of grants, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.